title: Problematic eating behaviors in adolescents with low self-esteem and elevated depressive symptoms.
abstract: Previous research has indicated that low self-esteem may be an important risk factor for the development of eating disorders. Few longitudinal studies have examined the relationships between low self-esteem, depressive symptoms, and eating disorders in adolescents. The present study investigated whether low self-esteem was associated with depressive symptoms and problematic eating behaviors. Measures of low self-esteem and problematic eating behaviors were administered to a sample of 197 adolescent primary-care patients. Depressive symptoms and problematic eating behaviors were assessed ten months later. Youths with low self-esteem were at greater risk for high levels of depressive symptoms and eating disorder symptoms. In addition, depressive symptoms mediated the association of low self-esteem with problematic eating behaviors.
authors.affiliation: New York State Psychiatric Institute, United States. eac2153@columbia.edu
authors.forename: Elizabeth A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Courtney
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gamboz
authors.forename: Jeffrey G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Johnson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000523:psychology*; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D012649:Self Concept; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult